The ETENA Idea Marathon: Empowering Entrepreneurs to Innovate Tourism and Support Rural Communities in Egypt

Empowering entrepreneurs to shape solutions that boost Egyptian tourism and rural livelihoods

Launched by TUI Care Foundation and enpact, the ETENA programme focuses on supporting 100 aspiring entrepreneurs and 10 startup founders in tourism and tourism supply chains across Egypt, Tunisia, and Morocco, providing them with tailored business development support and financial backing opportunities through four phases of key activities: Idea Marathon, 2-month Pre-incubator, 6-month Incubator, and a regional 3-month Accelerator.

In its Ideation phase, the Empowering Tourism Ecosystems in North Africa (ETENA) programme aims to empower 25 teams of future entrepreneurs who have digital ideas in tourism in Egypt with tailored business development support. The purpose is to help them develop concepts for innovative solutions that can promote local experiences, drive job creation, and by extension, create inclusive social impact.

Stage 1: Idea Marathon

Through a nationwide open call for applications, 25 teams will be selected to join the ETENA Idea Marathon and receive training and resources to facilitate rapid ideation.

Stage 2: Pre-incubation

Through the ETENA Idea Marathon, 12 teams will be selected to receive two months of training, access to workstations and comprehensive support to conceptualise and prototype their ideas.

By the conclusion of Stage 2, ETENA’s 6-month incubator will launch with 4 teams, each receiving access to tailored training, dedicated mentoring, and direct financial support of 500 Euros per month, along with permanent access to workstations at the enpact hub in Zamalek.

Meet the ETENA idea competition winners!

Through the idea competition, 13 teams of tourism entrepreneurs were selected to start their journey with the ETENA Pre-incubator in November 2025. Get to know them:

EcoLingo by Elwaleed Rashad

A rural tourism initiative that moves beyond ancient sites to offer authentic, heritage-based experiences where travelers live, eat, and craft alongside local Egyptian communities.

Gamandy Ecolodge by Reem Latif

A community-building ecolodge where travelers experience authentic local life by learning heritage crafts and cooking, directly supporting the livelihoods of their hosts.

Green Space by Shady Naguib

Green Space is a community eco-hub in Alexandria offering wellness retreats, organic farming, and nature trails that connect visitors with local culture and environmental learning.

Heritage Tourism by Yomna Osman

A rural tourism initiative that moves beyond ancient sites to offer authentic, heritage-based experiences where travelers live, eat, and craft alongside local Egyptian communities.

HikeSinai by Ahmed Sherif

HikeSinai is a booking platform that directly connects travelers with local Sinai guides and eco-lodges, ensuring fair pay and authentic desert adventures.

Holo World by Mostafa Abdo

The “Uber” for sustainable travel in Egypt, this app instantly connects you with vetted eco-lodges and local guides for authentic, bookable experiences.

Journey Through History by Fatma Mohamed

A mobile app that guides you through historical sites in chronological order, connecting you directly with local artisans for immersive, hands-on cultural.

Marsa Waves by Ahmed Aiesh

Marsa Waves is the all-in-one marketplace for booking authentic tours and activities directly from local providers in Egypt’s Red Sea.

Nomad Egypt by Abdalla Hanbak

Nomad Egypt is a cooperative marketplace app that empowers locals to become tourism providers, ensuring they keep the majority of the profits from the authentic tours and homestays they design.

Qomra Bus by Nada Khallid

The Qomra Bus Project is a mobile cultural hub, led by young artists, that connects travelers with rural Egyptian communities through immersive road trips, art workshops, and eco-trails.

Rafiky by Evan Qaiser

Rafiky is the AI-powered travel app that brings Egypt’s history to life with AR, while connecting you directly to competitive local guides and artisans.

The Wild Path by Mahmoud Elghoubashy

Wild Path organizes Egypt’s premier eco-camping rallies in nature reserves, offering premium adventures that directly support conservation and local communities.

Watch and Travel by Abdullah Eisa

Watch and Travel is an interactive art and tourism project designed to revive Egypt’s forgotten archaeological sites, starting with the historic city of Tell el-Amarna.